A variety of pliers – round nose pliers, chain nose pliers, step jaw pliers, bent closing pliers, and nylon jaw pliers A metal ruler that measures both centimeters and inches Wire cutters Practice wire, to practice bending and shaping you wire before you attempt to bend your more expensive wire for your actual project Peg boards for bending wire
There are many variations of jewelry making kits depending on what specific kind of jewelry you want to make. For example, there are beading jewelry kits, stringing jewelry kits, and wire jewelry kits, just to name a few.
Beads Jewelry wire in common gauge sizes (18, 20, and 22); 20 gauge is best for beginners Clasps and closures Jump rings
For example, different necklace styles are certain lengths. Chokers are about 14 – 16 inches in length, princess style necklaces are about 17 – 19 inches in length, and rope necklaces are about 34 inches in length and longer. [4] X Research source Necklaces that fall just below the collar bone tend to measure about 17 inches for women, and about 20 inches for men. [5] X Research source Common bracelet lengths measure about 7 inches for women, and between 8 – 11 inches for men. [6] X Research source
To learn these different techniques you can read jewelry making books, search for tutorials, and take jewelry making workshops. Search online for instructions on how to make the the specific earrings, bracelet, ring, or other kind of jewelry you want to try making.
For example, in order to start making charm earrings, you first have to select the charms you want to use. [8] X Research source Charms can be found online, at craft stores, or jewelry stores. Then you have to select your earring findings, which are the parts of the earring that fit through your ear piercing. When you are ready to begin making your jewelry, go over the instructions that you have acquired on how to make the jewelry piece.
No matter what kind of jewelry material you are using, always try to practice the technique first, before using your actual, precious jewelry materials. Thin, copper wire is always a good choice for practice wire.
Be sure that if you crystals have a distinct front and back side, that the front side will be showing forward once you close the jump ring and put on the earring. If not, you can always reopen the jump ring and turn the crystal around on the ring.
This earring project can take less than five minutes, and at the end, you have a unique pair of beautiful earrings.
You can also trim away the excess wire near the crimp bead so you don’t get poked. Repeat this process with the other side of bracelet. Add a clasp to an end of the bracelet. Add a clasp onto one of the end jump rings by using pliers to twist and open a jump ring, and then feed the clasp onto the ring. Close the jump ring, and connect your bracelet together. This same technique can be used with longer wire and more beads to make a simple necklace.
When the three beads are on the thread, hold the two ends of the thread together and allow the beads to fall to the middle of the thread. [12] X Research source
The two bracelet threads should now be coming out from opposite directions from the bead. Pull the threads outward in opposite directions to string the bead into place. [14] X Research source This fourth bead will act as a bridge between the other beads.
Keep adding beads in this manner until the length of the ring becomes long enough to wrap around your finger. [16] X Research source You can intermittently check the length of the ring by wrapping it around your finger. Just make sure you hold onto the loose end of the ring.
Trim off any excess fishing line thread, and consider adding a drop of glue to the thread ends to make sure they stay connected. [19] X Research source
